Other Common Names
Leaf-cutter Bee, Mortar or Dauber Bee (for Old World taxa), Wall Bee
Numbers
~130 spp. in 16 subgenera in our area, 1520 spp. in 56 subgenera worldwide
(1)Size
Typically 7-9 mm, a few to 12 mm or larger
(2)Food
Polylectic, that is larvae feed on wide variety of pollens.
Life Cycle
The cut leaves from these bees serve as protective plugs within the underground nests.
(4)
Most nest in pre-existent holes in wood. Female typically cuts neat, more-or-less round pieces out of leaves to serve as separators between cells of nest:
Remarks
The males of most species have enlarged light-colored front legs with a fringe of hairs and with odor glands. They use these features during mating. They partially cover the female's eyes with the hairy legs and the odor glands are placed close to the female's antennae. These adaptations resemble those of some carpenter bees and sphecid wasps. (
Wittmann & Blochtein 1995)
See Also
Coelioxys--tapered abdomen, lacks pollen basket underneath
Print References
Mitchell, TB. 1980. A generic revision of the megachiline bees of the Western Hemisphere (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Contributions of the Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 95 pp.
